Interchangeable artificial tooth and backing



Aug. 17, 1965 R. SPALTEN 3,200,496

INTERCHANGEABLE ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND BACKING Filed NOV. 9, 1962 H6. 5 FIG. 6

FIG. F/G'. l2

INVENTOR. ,aseer P 767V United States Patent 3,200,496 INTERCHANGEABLE ARTIFICIAL TOOTH AND BACKING Robert Spalten, 333 Central Park W., New York 25, N.Y. Fiied Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,523 2 Claims. (Cl. 32-9) My invention relates to an interchangeable artificial tooth and more particularly to an artificial tooth that interlocks with a metal backing.

An object of the present invention is to provide an anterior and a posterior artificial tooth of the interchangeable type that may be modified by the dentist to meet all the conditions that are encountered in the mouth, thus eliminating the great variety of sizes presently required.

Another object is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth having a metal backing to which the tooth body is secured for increased strength.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth having the foregoing characteristics wherein the metal backing extends from one proximal area to the other.

A further object is to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth with a metal backing that may be made from sheet metal, for maximum economy in manufacture.

An additional object is to provide such a tooth with a mating connection to a supporting construction that does not require a visible metal reinforcement at the biting surface t properly transmit the stresses.

Other objects are to provide a transversely curved backing for an artificial tooth to increase its strength and t0 better its proximal esthetics; to provide an artificial tooth in which the backing extends into the body of the tooth to provide additional support for the tooth body; to provide an artificial tooth and backing in which the tooth body does not have to be ground during installation to fit the backing; to provide such a tooth with as much body surface as is possible against the tissue to obtain a better esthetic and hygienic effect in the mouth; to provide an interchangeable artificial tooth with'maximum esthetics and hygiene consistent with strength; to provide an easily installed replacement tooth upon the backing without the necessity for disturbing the backing or supporting construction; and to accomplish the foregoing in an artificial tooth that is less expensive to install and maintain than present artificial teeth.

These and other objects and features of the invention are obtained and my new results accomplished as will be apparent from the artificial teeth described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an interchangeable anterior tooth provided with a trough shaped opening;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a similar interchangeable posterior tooth;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet metal backing for fitting into the tooth body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid backing;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of an anterior tooth shown partly in section, to illustrate a key-slot and overhang formed therein;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of the same;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a sheet metal backing for insertion into the tooth body shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of a solid backing for the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, reference numeral 19 designates an anterior tooth made of hard and 32%,49fi Patented Aug. 17, 1965 shock-proof ceramic or plastic, useful as an incisor, and having a trough-shaped opening 12; the opening has a longitudinal axis extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tooth. The opening extends into the porcelain body from the rear wall 13 thereof, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

In FIG. 5 is shown a U-shaped metal backing 14 over which the tooth Ill fits. The backing illustrated is made of sheet metal. It is provided with leg sections 16 and 18, joined by base 21 which fit snugly into the troughshaped opening 12 of the tooth 10.

The legs 16 and 18 are preferably transversely curved as shown, which I have found will greatly strengthen the walls of the sheet metal. It further provides the interlock between the tooth body and backing to prevent lateral movement. By curving the backing towards the rear of the proximal areas of the tooth, the metal will be relatively unnoticeable from the front, thereby increasing the esthetic value of the tooth.

The tooth body in the present invention is made of shock-proof ceramic or plastic material 50 as to eliminate the need for a reinforcement, and a fusing or bonding agent to secure the reinforcement. Instead only a conventional cement is employed that will permit separation from the backing, if some alteration or replacement is required. Such a tooth body may be made of the new non-brittle ceramics, such as those currently being produced by the Coming Glass Works, or an epoxy resin formulation.

The backing may be mounted to a support (not shown) extending from the rear of the tooth or the backing may be secured proximally to adjacent teeth.

To facilitate such attachment, the hollow backing 14 may befilled with a suitable solder, or it may be cast or formed in the solid form 30, as shown in FIG. 6.

The backing extends laterally from one proximal edge to the other, to obtain maximum resistance to tress. The backing extends for the same width as the tooth body to insure full contact and support therewith.

Should it become necessary to reduce the width of the tooth to fit a specified spacing between teeth, the tooth body and backing may all be reduced to the same extent providing a full reinforcement and support for the space allowed.

The backing is then soldered to the castings which fit the abutment teeth or to the rear support, and the tooth is then cemented into position on the backing.

By positioning the backing from the rear or lingual surface of the tooth only the smooth tooth body material directly engages the tissue on the saddle surface 18 of the tooth which eliminates an unesthetic show of metal, and avoids the junction line therewith which can irritate the tissue and which is also unhygienic.

By containing the backing within the tooth body, I have given the construction adequate resistance to fracture and provided sufficient safety during exertion of the biting pressure.

The incisal edges are provided with translucent material to give greater esthetic appearance. By containing the backing within the tooth, the incisal edge is free of metal and made more natural in appearance.

The posterior tooth body 10a shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be provided with an identical backing as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Thus a single backing may be used for both anterior and posterior teeth, simplifying the inventory of parts needed in the construct-ion of the teeth and their installation in the mouth.

'The backing is similarly contained in the tooth body opening 1211 from the rear or lingual wall 13a thereof. The smooth saddle surface 18a similarly engages the tissue preserving the esthetic and hygienic values.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 I have shown an anterior tooth body 10b provided with a modified form of trough shaped opening 12b characterized by the keyslot 22b. A corresponding key form 241) is formed in backing 14b so that the backing may be fitted therein.

In this form I prefer to provide an overhang 22b in the key form of the body and a mating overhang 28b in the backing to obtain added retention for the tooth body.

The identical backing 14b may be used in the construction of the posterior type of tooth such as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the keyed version of the tooth and backing, the solid backing 30b may also be used, as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the foregoing, I have shown an anterior and posterior tooth and backing therefor that may comprise the entire inventory of the dentist. With these two basic teeth shapes, he can provide an artificial tooth in the mouth by merely grinding the proximal areas of the body and backing simultaneously, said backing being fully seated within the body, to fit the proximal surfaces of the adjoining structures. The other areas of the tooth body may then be resurfaced to fit the other requirements of space and esthetics.

These teeth are characterized by a backing that provides maximum strength and full resistance to fracture for the tooth body.

Sheet metal can be utilized for making the backing achieving economy of manufacture.

The curved construction of the backing results in additional strength, while providing the necessary interlock.

By containing the backing within the body of the tooth, I obtain greater esthetic effect, without loss of structural strength. The saddle areas contain only the tooth body material achieving better hygiene and maximum comfort with better esthetics. The construction enables the backing to be properly secured in position, and allows the tooth to be easily fitted and positioned in the mouth. The structure of the tooth permits practically unlimited grinding on all surfaces to fit every conceivable situation without loss of favorable strength to stress ratio.

Interchangeability is obtained adding to the economy of the construction.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it i not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instmmentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which objects of my invention are obtained and new results accomplished since the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

1. An artificial tooth for attachment to a support in the mouth, said tooth having a body portion simulating a natural tooth, an opening in a portion of the rear or lingual area of the tooth body and extending from one lateral edge to the other, said opening forming a slot in the tooth body, the walls of said tooth body defining said slot being transversely curved from one lateral edge to the other, the lateral openings extending towards the lingual side of the tooth body and forming interlocking means on said slot defining walls, and a backing for said tooth body having a similar cross-section as the slot in the tooth body and interconnecting with said interlocking means.

2. The artificial tooth of claim 1 wherein the backing is made of sheet metal having a shape conforming to the walls of the tooth body in said slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/30 Myerson 32-9 1/42 Feldman et al '32-9 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,398,671 4/46 Safiir.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. AN ARTIFICIAL TOOTH FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORT IN THE MOUTH, SAID TOOTH HAVINGA BODY PORTION SIMULATING A NATURAL TOOTH, AN OPENING IN A PORTION OF THE REAR OR LINGUAL AREA OF THE TOOTH BODY AND EXTENDING FROM ONE LATERAL EDGE TO THE OTHER, SAID OPENING FORMING A SLOT IN THE TOOTH BODY, THE WALLS OF SAID TOOTH BODY DEFINING SAID SLOT BEING TRANSVERSLEY CURVED FROM ON LATERAL EDGE TO THE OTHER, THE LATERAL OPENINGS EXTENDING TOWARDS THE LINGUAL SIDE OF THE TOOTH BODY AND FORMING INTERLOCKING MEANS ON SAID SLOT DEFINING WALLS, AND A BACKING FOR SAID TOOTH BODY HAVING A SIMILAR CROSS-SECTION AS THE SLOT IN THE TOOTH BODY AND INTERCONNECTING WITH SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS. 